Jordan Davis’ Parents Speak: Our Son Will Not Die in Vain

As Michael Dunn, 45, prepares to face first-degree murder charges in September for the November 23, 2012 slaying of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, in an exclusive interview with Jet Magazine the teen’s parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, share the difficulties in keeping their son’s story alive and how they’ve bonded with Trayvon Martin‘s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin.

Davis was gunned down by Dunn at a gas station in Jacksonville, Fla. Dunn claims that he felt threatened by the teen — who was sitting inside of an SUV with friends — and loud music coming from the vehicle, so he shot inside of it eight or nine times before driving away leaving Davis to die in a friend’s arms.

None of the teens had weapons.

The fact that Dunn was carrying a legal concealed weapon, and is counting on Florida’s controversial ‘Stand Your Ground’ law to justify his actions, has drawn attention to the racial implications of the law in the state.

Read excerpts from the interview below:

How have you been preparing for the trial in September?

Ron Davis: We show up and listen to the information presented by the prosecutor and the defendant. We’re there to support the prosecutor. We’ll start a civil action after the trial.

Lucia McBath: Ron and I continue to attend all the pre-trial motions each month. The two most important motions, which were denied by the judge, were Michael Dunn’s request for bond as well as a denial to claim indigence for his attorney’s fees. His attorney continues to stall and drag out discovery and disclosure materials in hopes it will weaken our case. Evidence against Michael Dunn is overwhelming according to our attorneys so, we are hoping that once we go to trial September 23, justice for Jordan and the boys will be swift.

You set up a website to get 25,000 signatures on your petition. Were you successful in reaching that goal?

Ron Davis: It started too late. There was no way we could get that number of signatures by the deadline. The main goal was that we wanted people to know that their voice could make a difference.

Can you tell us about the new site, walkwithjordan.org, and what supporters will find there?

Ron Davis: We launched a new walkwithjordan.org on May 19. People visiting the site can be updated weekly, add their own stories, look through the photo gallery or donate to the Jordan Davis Memorial Fund. The memorial fund goes toward families of victims to bring attention to their cause. We need people to come forward who think they don’t have a voice. If we know that a situation is happening, we can contact local politicians.

Because of the vote on gun control, it seems like it’s a dead issue. It’s a state-by-state case. You have to be proactive to continue the fight. We’re not going to stop in helping to change the gun laws.

Have you met with politicians to discuss the Stand Your Ground law?

Lucia McBath: We have been extremely successful in discussions with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. I have spent considerable time in Washington, DC, speaking with legislators for, as well as against, common sense gun control legislation. We have made appearances on HLN, CNN, MSNBC, and TV One and continue to give interviews on various radio shows. I have now begun to work on gun control legislation in Georgia. I have been a supporter of State Senator Vincent Fort and now am a member of Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America. I am actively working with them to place pressure on Georgia senators Chambliss and Isaacson to vote for measures that would amend the current gun laws for national background checks.

How have you connected with Trayvon Martin’s family?

Ron Davis: We were down in Miami to help celebrate Trayvon’s 18th birthday. We are in touch about what we’re doing. We’re trying to support them as much as we can. We do have bad days. The last thing you want to do is assume how someone feels. It’s hard to be strong when you are the one who lost a son or daughter. You do the best that you can, and that’s all you can do. I have told Trayvon’s father Tracy that anytime you want to call or text me, you can do that. It’s all a story until it’s not a story. He’s not going to be left by himself. It’s not about the 15 minutes.